SHELL’S attempt to get ahead by building a petrol station and Hungry Jack’s on Great Eastern Highway less than 200m before an existing BP could backfire on a busy morning on the buses.
In plans approved last week, access to the service station driveway from the highway will go right through a high-frequency bus stop, meaning if two buses happened to be there together most of the driveway would be blocked.
In that situation there would be only enough room for a small car to turn in.
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READ NOWDespite the potential traffic backlog that could cause and a directive from Main Roads WA that it would not allow direct access from the site to or from the highway, modified plans including a shorter bus bay design were passed on Monday by the Metro Central Joint Development Assessment Panel.
The new citybound service station in Redcliffe will be built at the corner of Bulong Avenue, less than 200m before motorists reach a BP fuel station.
The Public Transport Authority was non-plussed about the bus bay situation but Main Roads WA and the councillors that represent the City of Belmont on the panel, Robert Rossi and Mayor Phil Marks, expressed concerns.
“Plainly, as we can see here the bus sits across the crossover, I think that’s dangerous,” Cr Marks said.
“Two buses running together is a common feature of Great Eastern Highway. To design for it to happen is not acceptable in my opinion.”
Cr Rossi and Cr Marks did not support the vote to approve the revised development plan, which was passed 3-2.
A letter from Main Roads WA confirmed it did not support the plans and reiterated that the only access to Great Eastern Highway from the site should continue to be via an existing easement.
In advice to the City of Belmont, the PTA said it would be unusual to have two buses at the bus stop concurrently.
Panel member Lindsay Baxter also suggested it was common for driveways along Great Eastern Highway to be temporarily blocked in peak traffic periods.
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